Alex Delvecchio, a Hockey Hall of Famer and Detroit Red Wings legend, has died at the age of 93. Delvecchio passed away peacefully on July 1, 2025, at his home in Rochester, Michigan, surrounded by family.
Born in Fort William, Ontario, on December 4, 1931, Alexander Peter "Fats" Delvecchio dedicated his entire 24-year National Hockey League (NHL) career to the Detroit Red Wings. From 1951 to 1973, he played 1,549 games, amassing 456 goals and 825 assists for a total of 1,281 points. At the time of his retirement, he ranked second in NHL history in games played, assists, and points.
Delvecchio was a中心人物 of the Red Wings' dynasty in the 1950s, helping the team win three Stanley Cups in 1952, 1954, and 1955. He initially replaced Sid Abel on the famed "Production Line," playing alongside Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay. Delvecchio was also known for his sportsmanship, winning the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy three times. He was a 13-time All-Star and a Second Team All-Star twice, in 1953 and 1959. For 12 seasons, he served as the Red Wings' captain.
"Alex was more than a hockey icon," his family said in a statement released by the Red Wings. "He was a devoted husband, loving father, great grandfather, cherished friend and respected teammate to so many... While the world knew him as an incredible hockey player with numerous accomplishments on the ice, we knew him as someone whose humility, strength, competitiveness, kindness and heart were even greater than his professional achievements".
After retiring as a player, Delvecchio became the Red Wings' head coach in 1973 and also served as the team's general manager from 1974 to 1977. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1977. In 2017, he was named one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players" in history. The Red Wings retired his No. 10 jersey on November 10, 1991, and a statue commemorating his career was unveiled on October 16, 2008.
Delvecchio holds several distinctions in Red Wings history. He ranks third in games played, behind only Gordie Howe and Nicklas Lidstrom. At the time of his retirement, he held the NHL record for the longest career spent with a single franchise. He also played 1,670 games between the regular season and playoffs for the Red Wings, the most anyone has played for one NHL team.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman acknowledged Delvecchio's contributions to the sport and the Red Wings franchise. "Few athletes in any sport have ever been as synonymous with one franchise as Alex Delvecchio was with the Detroit Red Wings," Bettman said.
Delvecchio was an "Honored Member" of the Detroit Red Wings Alumni Association and actively participated in fundraising efforts for children's charities in Metro Detroit. He was the last surviving member of the Red Wings' Stanley Cup-winning teams of 1952, 1954, and 1955.
